Vehicle seat latch having striker compliance in transverse directions

Abstract

The vehicle seat latch ( 16 ) disclosed includes an elongate pivot plate ( 32 ) pivotally mounted by a first pivotal connection ( 36 ) on a seat frame ( 28 ) by a mounting plate ( 26 ). A second pivotal connection ( 42 ) mounts a latch assembly ( 40 ) on the pivot plate ( 32 ). The latch assembly ( 40 ) includes a throat plate ( 46 ) having a throat ( 48 ) for receiving a vehicle body mounted striker ( 24 ), and the latch assembly ( 40 ) also includes at least one latch member ( 50, 52 ) movable between latched and unlatched positions for securing the latch to the striker ( 24 ). Pivoting of the pivot plate ( 32 ) about the first pivotal connection ( 36 ) and pivoting of the throat plate ( 46 ) about the second pivotal connection ( 42 ) provide the latch assembly with compliance that accommodates for striker position variation along transverse directions, which are vertical and horizontal when the seat is latched to the vehicle floor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle seat latch for securing a vehicle seat to a vehicle body in which the seat is to be used, comprising:
 an elongate pivot plate having an end including a first pivotal connection for mounting on a frame of the seat with the pivot plate extending therefrom in a first direction; 
 a latch assembly having a second pivotal connection to the pivot plate at a spaced location from the first pivotal connection such that pivoting of the pivot plate about the first pivotal connection moves the latch assembly in a second direction transverse to the first direction; 
 the latch assembly including a throat plate pivotally mounted on the pivot plate by the second pivotal connection and having a throat for receiving a striker on the vehicle body upon movement toward the striker as the throat plate pivots to provide compliance that accommodates for striker position variation along the first direction; and 
 the latch assembly having at least one latch member pivotally mounted by the second pivotal connection for movement between latched and unlatched positions to respectively secure or release the striker and, upon moving to the latched position with the striker in the throat of the throat plate, pivoting the pivot plate to move the second pivotal connection along the second direction and provide compliance that accommodates for striker position variation along the second direction. 
 
     
     
       2. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 1  that is constructed to secure a seat bottom frame to a floor of the vehicle body with the pivot plate extending horizontally in the first direction and with the second connection moving vertically in the second direction as the pivot plate pivots. 
     
     
       3. A vehicle seat as in  claim 1  further including a mounting plate for mounting on the seat frame and on which the first pivotal connection mounts the pivot plate. 
     
     
       4. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 3  wherein the pivot plate has a second end spaced from its first mentioned end with the second pivotal connection therebetween, and the mounting plate having a stop for contacting the second end of the pivot plate to limit its pivoting movement that provides the movement of the second pivotal connection for providing the compliance that accommodates for striker positioning variation in the second direction. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 4  wherein the second end of the pivot plate has an opening that receives the stop of the mounting plate to limit the pivoting movement of the pivot plate. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 5  wherein the mounting plate includes a biaser that biases the pivot plate to move the second pivotal connection toward the striker. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 6  wherein the biaser of the mounting plate includes an elastic bumper in contact with the first mentioned end of the pivot plate to provide its bias that moves the second pivotal connection toward the striker. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 1  wherein the pivot plate includes a stop that contacts the throat plate to limit its pivotal movement on the pivot plate. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 8  wherein the pivot plate includes an opening that embodies its stop and wherein the throat plate includes a pin received within the opening providing the stop of the pivot plate to limit the pivoting of the throat plate. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 1  wherein the latch assembly includes a pair of latch members, one latch member having a latched position contacting the striker with a pressure angle in the range of 6 to 9 degrees, and the other latch member having a latched position where it is spaced from the striker. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle seat latch as in  claim 8  wherein the latch assembly also includes a spring biaser that biases the latch members toward their latched positions, and a release connection for moving the other latch member from its latched position to an unlatched position and for also moving the one latch member from its latched position to its unlatched position. 
     
     
       12. A vehicle floor seat latch for securing a vehicle seat to the floor of a vehicle body in which the seat is to be used, comprising:
 a mounting plate for attachment to a frame of the vehicle seat; 
 an elongate pivot plate having an end including a first pivotal connection to the mounting plate with the pivot plate extending generally horizontally therefrom; 
 a latch assembly having a second pivotal connection to the pivot plate at a spaced location from the first pivotal connection such that pivoting of the pivot plate about the first pivotal connection moves the latch assembly vertically; 
 the latch assembly including a throat plate pivotally mounted on the pivot plate by the second pivotal connection and having a downwardly opening throat for receiving a striker on the floor of the vehicle body upon downward movement from above the striker as the throat plate pivots to provide longitudinal compliance that accommodates for longitudinal striker position variation; and 
 the latch assembly having a pair of latch members pivotally mounted by the second pivotal connection for movement between latched and unlatched positions to respectively secure or release the striker, one latch member having a latched position contacting the striker with a pressure angle in the range of 6 to 9 degrees, the one latch member upon moving to its latched position with the striker in the throat of the throat plate pivoting the pivot plate to move the second pivotal connection vertically and provide vertical compliance that accommodates for vertical striker position variation, and the other latch member having a latched position where it is spaced from the striker. 
 
     
     
       13. A vehicle floor seat latch for securing a vehicle seat to the floor of a vehicle body in which the seat is to be used, comprising:
 a mounting plate for attachment to a frame of the vehicle seat; 
 an elongate pivot plate having a first end including a first pivotal connection to the mounting plate, and the pivot plate having a second end spaced horizontally from its first end; 
 a latch assembly having a second pivotal connection to the pivot plate between its first and second ends such that pivoting of the pivot plate about the first pivotal connection moves the latch assembly vertically; 
 the latch assembly including a throat plate pivotally mounted on the pivot plate by the second pivotal connection and having a downwardly opening throat for receiving a striker on the floor of the vehicle upon downward movement from above the striker as the throat plate pivots to provide longitudinal compliance that accommodates for longitudinal striker position variation; 
 the latch assembly having a pair of latch members pivotally mounted by the second pivotal connection for movement between latched and unlatched positions to respectively secure or release the striker, one latch member having a latched position contacting the striker with a pressure angle in the range of 6 to 9 degrees, the one latch member upon moving to its latched position with the striker in the throat of the throat plate pivoting the pivot plate to move the second pivotal connection vertically and provide vertical compliance that accommodates for vertical striker position variation, and the other latch member having a latched position where it is spaced from the striker; 
 a spring biaser that biases the latch members toward their latched positions; and 
 a release connection for moving the other latch member from its latched position to an unlatched position and for moving the one latch member from its latched position to its unlatched position.